TENCH AND ROACH 



River Lea on Lord Salisbury's estate at Hatfield. It 

 turned the scale at 4 pounds. The colour apparently 

 varies according to the age of the fish Greenish- 

 yellow to greenish-black, with whitish on the belly, 

 may be given as a general colouration. At times a 

 golden variety is encountered. The body scales are 

 very small. This was a favourite fish in monastic 

 days, and I have frequently caught large Tench of three 

 to four pounds weight from ponds which were once the 

 pride of the monks of old. Although it has a firm white 



Tc-ncK Fig 4 5" 



flesh it has a muddy taste, but this is said to disappear 

 after scalding. Perhaps the monks were not so fastidious 

 in their tastes as we are to-day, though from all accounts 

 they did not leave much to chance where provision for 

 their appetites was concerned. 



Roach. — Rutilus rutiliis (Fig. 46). The name is 

 derived from an old French word, the meaning and 

 origin of which are obscure. The deep silvery body and 

 greenish back, covered with large scales almost as large 

 as a threepenny piece, is admirably shown oflF by the 

 lower fins of the adult being tinged with red, whilst those 

 o 8. 



